Unseen review: Molly Burke's honest memoir

Happy Halloween, book club! Today we close out October 2026 with Unseen: How I Lost My Vision but Found My Voice by Molly Burke, and I was delighted by this book from page one to done. See the full details on our Unseen book page.

Why this story hit home

I related to Molly in more ways than one. I didn't grow up with a disability, but I had a large scar on my left cheek, and I was called names and bullied from elementary school into junior high. We were poor, my parents struggled with alcohol, and we moved a lot. When my mom passed away when I was 15, I turned to alcohol and drugs myself. I spent my 20s bartending and partying, and then the first five years of my 30s in prison.

Our stories are very different. Still, I connected with Molly on a deep level, and I am grateful she wrote so honestly about her struggles.

Success doesn't erase the past

Even after she became incredibly successful, the trauma of struggling and being bullied stayed with her. And success didn't change the fact that she is still blind in a sighted world that doesn't always understand.

A world that still disables her

What she goes through every day, with drivers and restaurants refusing her guide dog, is unfair and frankly insane. Molly writes that she will never be successful enough to stop being disabled by the world around her. She can't buy her way out of discrimination.

That is exactly what keeps her fighting for every disabled person who isn't in those rooms and doesn't have the same opportunities. And if nothing else, it keeps her humble.

What it means for those of us who build things

The barriers Molly faces offline show up online too, in images without alt text, unlabeled buttons, and flows a screen reader can't follow. The W3C's guide to how people with disabilities use the web (opens in a new tab) is a good reminder of who we build for. Our post The world around me makes me disabled, not my disability explores the same idea.

My rating: 10 out of 10

I am walking away from this book a huge fan and follower. Thank you, Molly, for your raw honesty and for taking us through your whole journey. If you love memoirs, our Haben memoir review and No Need for Sight review are next on your list.

Join the conversation

Now it’s your turn. How would you rate Unseen? Share your score and your favorite moment in the Accessibility Book Club LinkedIn group (opens in a new tab).